Automatic flood control means



Aug. 7, 1962 c. e. ROBERTS 3,048,186

AUTOMATIC FLOOD CONTROL MEANS Filed April 22, 1959 FIGJ.

ATTORNEYS 3,048,186 AUTOMATIC FLOOD CONTROL MEANS Charles G. Roberts, 23861 Verne Ave, Detroit 19, Mich. Filed Apr. 22, 1959, Ser. No. 808,124 7 Claims. (Cl. 137-111) The present invention relates to flood control means and specifically to means operating automatically to prevent basement flooding due to backing up of sewer Water or inflow of seepage.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide means operating automatically to force the flow of collecting seepage into the main sewage line when the ordinary flow is stopped due to a filled sewer.

Another object is to provide a device of the kind indicated which is operated by the usual household water supply system.

Still another object is to provide a device of the kind indicated which may be operated either automatically or by voluntary means.

Other objects and advantages will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a more or less diagrammatic view of the device as installed, parts being shown in section.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a part of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view, partly in section, of a plugging device for a water closet.

In the drawing, an outside house wall is indicated at with the basement floor at 11. In the latter, a standard drain clean-out, usually covered with a cover, is indicated at 12. The element consists of a vertically arranged pipe connected to the trap 16 which forms part of the seepage drain 17 leading to a sewer 18.

The device of the present invention utilizes the standard installation above referred to, being inserted into the pipe 15, after removal of the regular cover.

As shown in the drawing, the present device consists of a pipe 20, connected through parallel pipes 21 and 21A to the water system 19 of the building which provides as is usual a supply of water under pressure.

The parallel pipes 21 and 21A are each controlled by a valvethe valve 21B in pipe 21A being a standard hand operated valve and that in pipe 21 being a solenoid operated valve 22. The pipe extends to a point in the vertical portion of trap 16 well below the location of the entrance of the seepage drain 17 and has its lower end fixed to an injector pump 25 the lower end of which carries a plate 26.

Surrounding the lower portion of the pump 25, is a suitable rubber ball or thick disc 27 and upon this a second plate 28 loosely surrounds the pump. Seated upon the second plate is a perforated shield 30 or frame, enclosing the pump 25 and lower end of pipe 20, which shield continues upwardly to about the floor level, being reduced in diameter for convenience.

For a short distance above the upper end of shield 30, the pipe 20 is threaded to receive a handle 31, disc or the like, which is sufliciently large to engage the upper end of shield 30.

Upon proper manipulation of the handle 31, the two plates 26 and 28 may be moved toward each other to thereby expand radially the plug 27 for the purpose of closing that portion of the trap 16 in which it is positioned.

Surrounding the reduced upper part of the shield 30 is a float which is suspended in a predetermined vertical location by a suitable wire, cable, or chain 36 from the actuating lever or element of an electric switch 37 which controls the solenoid valve 22.

In the switch, the actuating element is spring biased toward circuit closing position and is maintained in open circuit position by the weight of float 25.

dfi ifidfifi Patented Aug. 7, 1962 As shown more clearly in FIG. 2, the pump 25 consists of a vertical conduit into the upper end of which the end of pipe 20 extends and is fixed. The end of pipe 20 is, as shown, constricted to form a jet 25A and the conduit constricted at the proper location to provide a venturi 2513. Above the venturi 25B suitable openings 25C will be provided to allow the seepage to enter the pump.

In the use of the device, the plug-float portion of the device is inserted into the clean out pipe and plug 27 expanded to close its portion of the trap 16. The pipes 21 and 21A are connected to the water supply 19 and suitable electric connections made for the switch 37. With normal drainage from the seepage drain, water enters the pipe 25 and flows into the trap and sewer 18.

However, if the drainage becomes greater than that allowed by the lateral openings in the pump, it will sooner or later affect the float 35, causing it to rise with an easing of the tension on the wire 35 and consequent closing of the circuit through the switch 37 to actuate valve 22.

The resulting flow of water through pump 25 carries off the water collected in drain 17. Whereupon the float drops and opens the circuit through the switch and solenoid to cease the operation.

The hand operated valve 21B may be used if no electric current is temporarily available.

In cases where the backing up of sewer water is likely to overflow water closets, a plug such as is indicated in FIG. 3 may be provided.

In this figure, the plug is shown as a rubber cup 50, mounted upon a handle 51 threaded near its upper end. Slidably mounted on the handle 51 is a cross member 52 long enough to lie under the usual flanges 53 of a toilet. A spring 54 surrounds the handle 51 and abuts the plug 5i and the cross member. A suitable thumb nut 55 threaded on the handle will keep the parts together and adjust the spring tension.

Such a plug or stopper is preferably produced to fit each toilet by first inserting the plug as so far described and then filling the rubber cup with plaster of Paris and allowing the latter to harden before removing the plug. Plugs or stoppers thus prepared will have the most accurate fit possible.

I claim:

1. A flood control system comprising a substantially vertical drain cleanout pipe, a seepage inlet pipe openly connected with the lower end portion of said cleanout pipe, a trap openly connected to the lower end of said pipe and disposed below said seepage inlet pipe, a plug element disposed in said trap and having a passage therethrough open at all times to provide water drainage from said cleanout pipe through said trap, and a pump means connected with a supplemental source of water under pressure and disposed in said trap and selectively operable to force-pump water from said cleanout and seepage inlet pipes through said plug passage, said supplementary source of water being independent of water normally present in said cleanout pipe.

2. The flood control system as defined in claim 1 and in which said passage includes an inlet openly connected with said trap above said plug and a restricted venturi intermediate said inlet and outlet, and means selectively injecting a jet of water under pressure past said inlet, through said venturi and out said outlet, whereby to suck water from said pipe and trap above said plug through said passage.

3. The flood control system as defined in claim 2 and in which said water injecting means comprises, conduit means connecting the source of water under pressure with said plug passage and having a restricted jet orifice opening into said passage, and valve means selectively opening and closing said conduit means.

4. In combination with a cleanout pipe and a seepage drain having a trap; a pumping unit adapted to draw seepage liquid from said drain and force it through said trap, said pumping unit consisting of an expansihle plug disposed in said trap, a jet pump disposed in said trap immediately above said plug and having its discharge extending through said plug, a water supply pipe and jet, extending into and providing the activation for said pump, said plug and pump being carried by said cleanout pipe, a float slidable on said water supply pipe above said pump, a solenoid valve for controlling the flow of Water through said water supply pipe, an electric switch for controlling said valve and means operatively connecting said fioat and switch and arranged to maintain said switch in open circuit position when said float is in its non-floating position.

5. A pump unit for seepage flood control system com prising a seepage drain and a cleanout pipe openly connected therewith, said unit adapted to be inserted into said cleanout pipe, said unit comprising a water pipe having at its lower end a Water actuated jet pump having a downwardly directed discharge outlet, an expansible plug surrounding said outlet and fixed against movement longitudinally thereof, a perforated, shield surrounding said pump and resting upon said plug, means for moving said Water pipe and shield relatively longitudinally whereby to expand said plug into sealing contact With said cleanout pipe, a solenoid valve for controlling fiow of water to said pump, an electric switch for controlling said valve, and a float operatively connected to said switch, said unit adapted to be positioned in said cleanout with said plug unit comprising an expansible plug adapted for sealing contact with said cleanout pipe, a water operated jet pump discharging therethrough, a water supply pipe for said pump, a float and control means for said water supply all mounted in vertical series relation, the whole being of such overall dimensions as to be insertable into the drain cleanout pipe with the plug positioned substantially in said drain trap downstream of the connection of said seepage drain with said cleanout pipe.

7. A pump unit for seepage flood control having a seepage drain and a cleanout pipe openly connected with said seepage drain, said pump unit adapted to be inserted into said cleanout pipe, said unit comprising a Water pipe having at its lower end a water actuated jet pump having a downwardly directed discharge outlet, an expansible plug surrounding said outlet and fixed against movement longitudinally thereof, -a perforated shield surrounding said pump and resting upon said plug, means for moving said water pipe and shield relatively longitudinally where by to expand said plug, a valve for controlling flow of Water to said pump, valve actuating means, and a float operatively connected'to said valve actuating means, said unit adapted to be positioned in said cleanout pipe with said plug disposed downstream of the seepage drain and cleanout pipe connection.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 714,682 Erwin Dec. 2, 1902 1,810,473 Gaines June 16, 1931 2,525,256 Byram Oct. 10, 1950 2,725,112 Weisman et al Nov. 29, 1955 2,738,787 Jacuzzi et a1. Mar. 20, 1956 2,914,081 Bigham Nov. 24, 1959 2,960,101 Winter Nov. 15, 1960 

